Ulangan 32:3-7

32:3 For I will proclaim the name ¹  of the Lord;

you must acknowledge the greatness of our God.

32:4 As for the Rock, ²  his work is perfect,

for all his ways are just.

He is a reliable God who is never unjust,

he is fair ³  and upright.

32:5 His people have been unfaithful ⁴  to him;

they have not acted like his children ⁵  – this is their sin. ⁶ 

They are a perverse ⁷  and deceitful generation.

32:6 Is this how you repay ⁸  the Lord,

you foolish, unwise people?

Is he not your father, your creator?

He has made you and established you.

32:7 Remember the ancient days;

bear in mind ⁹  the years of past generations. ¹⁰ 

Ask your father and he will inform you,

your elders, and they will tell you.

[32:3]  ¹ tc Smr and Tg read “in the name.”

[32:4]  ² tc The LXX reads Θεός (qeos, “God”) for the MT’s “Rock.”

[32:4]  sn The Hebrew term depicts God as a rocky summit where one may find safety and protection. Within a covenantal context it serves as a reminder to the people that their God has committed himself to their protection in return for their allegiance.

[32:4]  ³ tn Or “just” (KJV, NAB, NRSV, NLT) or “righteous” (NASB).

[32:5]  ⁴ tc The 3rd person masculine singular שָׁחַת (shakhat) is rendered as 3rd person masculine plural by Smr, a reading supported by the plural suffix on מוּם (mum, “defect”) as well as the plural of בֵּן (ben, “sons”).

[32:5]  tn Heb “have acted corruptly” (so NASB, NIV, NLT); NRSV “have dealt falsely.”

[32:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “(they are) not his sons.”

[32:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “defect” (so NASB). This highly elliptical line suggests that Israel’s major fault was its failure to act like God’s people; in fact, they acted quite the contrary.

[32:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “twisted,” “crooked.” See Ps 18:26.

[32:6]  ⁸ tn Or “treat” (TEV).

[32:7]  ⁹ tc The Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read 2nd person masculine singular whereas the MT has 2nd person masculine plural. The former is preferred, the latter perhaps being a misreading (בִּינוּ [binu] for בִּינָה [binah]). Both the preceding (“remember”) and following (“ask”) imperatives are singular forms in the Hebrew text.

[32:7]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “generation and generation.” The repetition of the singular noun here singles out each of the successive past generations. See IBHS 116 §7.2.3b.